It was at the 1986 annual POD conference in Hidden Valley, Pennsylvania, that Marilla Svinicki and Marilyn Leach launched the Bright Idea Award (BIA). Their purpose was to recognize innovative ideas that have improved learning and teaching, as well as enhanced the general effectiveness of higher education faculty members. The basic intent was to share innovative ideas with the POD membership and encourage others to adapt the ideas for their own use, as well as to develop useful innovations themselves.

Continuing this tradition at each annual conference of the POD Network, the Bright Idea Awards were presented to participants who implemented creative ideas for the enhancement of teaching and learning and/or faculty development. In 2004 the name of the award was changed to the POD Innovation Award. Recipients are recognized at the Saturday evening banquet with either a Recognition Candle Award or an engraved plaque. The winner of this award has the option to receive the Innovation Award (formally called Bright Idea) Lamp, a traveling trophy to be displayed at the host institution of the first author listed on the award.

We encourage both new and experienced participants at the annual POD conference in Reno, NV (October 22-25, 2008), to submit an entry. We will notify finalists of the POD Innovation Award on or before Wednesday, September 24, 2008; for all recipients, to win the POD Innovation Award, at least one author listed on the innovation poster is required to (a) present a poster session at the POD conference and distribute a handout describing their Innovation Award, and (b) attend the Saturday evening banquet and awards ceremony.

Submit the application electronically either in the body of an e-mail or as a Microsoft Word attachment to: zakra1t@cmich.edu   Please write POD Innovation Award in the subject line of the e-mail.  If you are using an attachment, name the file:  Last name - POD Innovation Award.

• Contact Information

• Your Name and Position or Title

• Name of Center/Department/Program

• Name of Institution and Address

• E-mail and Phone Number

• Center/Department/Program Web address (optional) Innovation Award Description

• Title of the Innovation Award

• Category of Innovation Award (choose the one most applicable)

  • Teaching and Learning

  • Consulting with Faculty

  • Workshops, Seminars, Conferences

  • Organizational Development

  • Teaching Assistant Development

  • Faculty Development Using Technology

  • Other ________________________

• Abstract of your Innovation Award - 75 words or less.

• Description of 500 words or less. Please note that this Innovation must be a practice you have already implemented and evaluated, at least informally. Use the following five (5) headings to organize your description (please avoid acronyms and send no additional materials):

  • Description and Goal(s) of the Innovation

  • Originality

  • Scope and Results

  • Transferability

  • Effectiveness (time and cost)

• Web address to support your entry (optional) Campus Contact Information

• Please include the names, titles, and addresses of up to three (3) individuals on your campus whom you want notified if you are an award recipient, including your Public Affairs office.

All Innovation Award recipients are required to present a poster session at the POD conference, Friday evening, October 24, 2008, in Reno, NV.

or contact Todd Zakrajsek
POD Innovation Award Chair, Central Michigan University
Phone: (989) 774-2757
Email: zakra1t@cmich.edu

Karen Santos, Director, & Carol Hurney, Assistant Director, Center for Faculty Innovation at James Madison University for The Leadership Book Chain. Designed to get the right books into the hands of those who need the information most, this program circulates carefully selected books on a variety of topics of interest in a "chain-like" manner among academic leaders on campus.